um pahars

Up and down the country ex pros do a stint in the corporate suites and every one of the gets paid. When I went to Highbury before the FA Cup final we even had Gooner mad Stupot!!!! from Grange Hill give a few words with our lower echelon clock end corporates!!! It's standard and accepted business practice. I know a lot of ex pros also give their time for charity events, but schmoozing and corporate work for their related clubs is not done for free. Is the next logical step is to ask Dodd to forego his wage??

Plus I found the bit about asking whether Benali has the Clubs interests at heart if he is suing the club a bit weird. Not because I thought it was a Benali V Cortese issue, but instead the insinuation that even if you think the club have @%*ed you over, then you should just take it on the chin and let your love of the Club override natural justice. Now wasn't this something we were having a pop at Pprtdmuff for when we were asking them to honour their debts and not suggest that their suppliers should be pressured in to writing off their debts. I took back a dodgy Saints track suit I bought for my nephew recently, I presume I haven't got the Club's interests at heart if I'm asking for a refund!

I would venture that a small fortune is somewhat of a bed wetting exaggeration (plus of course Lawrie's contract had been terminated way before the Liebherr takeover). The fees earned were in much the same mould as you would find on the corporate circuit of any pro club. Go corporate up and down the country and ex pros (even Stupot from Grange Hill at Highbury FFS!!!) are always found earning a wage doing meeting, greeting and entertaining.

Intrigued by what you mean by LIKE Chelsea or United??? Arguably we have quite a bit in common, in that in recent years we've been subsidised by a generous benefactor, we're paying some players more in a week than the average fan earns in a year, we play in the top flight, ticket prices are pretty steep, the Club is regularly looking at ways of generating income (be it merchandising and changing kits each year, booking fees etc), we've picked up extra fans now we're back in the top flight. I accept its all relative, but we have quite a bit in common. As for the OP as long as Saints exist in their current form then I'll follow them (over land and sea, and water). I might have the odd gripe about how the game (and perhaps even the Club) has changed, but they're still my Saints. I just don't think I could support a rival Saints. Now of course had we gone under and if the set up was right then I would have supported a reformed/Phoenix club. Which is why I can't be too harsh on those scrabbling around down the road as they are at least trying to salvage something out of the current clusterfckuk

Tis inspiring to see you like the idea of a club based in the community with fans on the board. What made you change your mind. BTW I don't phone Simon Carter anymore, we Skype every day instead.

Would it be a great idea, would you give us credit and say we had gumption? Would it be good to see us getting off our arses and doing something?

I can only presume the 58,000 sweater stadium will have 18,000 inflatable seats that will be blown up once a decade for the odd game.

and they have fans on the board! Huzzah.

I'll only take solace in Fergie's quote when we are clear of relegation at the end of the season.

Would have to agree 100%. He's definitely got a bit nastier, which is good to see (as much as I hated Fellaini the other night, I'd love him in my team). Isn't he the top tackler or something in the Prem?? Cork has also matured and grown as a player, and the pair of them did well the other night.

Great video. Very poignant to see Gary Speed outmuscke Dean Richards to score at the end.

Lovely lad (although a bit biased as he was a friend and neighbour. Bender, I was in Ayia Napa that year atthe same time as Hass and all the others as well!!). I think he was a half decent player who weighed in with a few important goals and contrary to what others said, always felt he gave his all. Always though he was better going forward than tracking back, but did also get stuck in at times. Right at the end I know he was really disillusioned at being insulted by Lowe (whilst watching other "stars", pick up much bigger wages whilst sat in the treatment room!!). Exit2 is spot on with the numbers. His demands to stay weren't outrageous (his initial contract was relative peanuts), but when Ipswich & Villa started waving stupid money he signed a deal which totalled millions!!!

That Fellaini fella

Without knowing the full facts I presume he's died of asphyxiation after being pinned down, if so, then it's going to be interesting to see what the Police/CPS do next. You can't really blame people for sitting on top of a gun toting, gas masked up raider, but at the same time someone has died here. Common sense says a decision not to prosecute any of the Good Samaritans should be made quickly.

Why, what happened there then?

If I had a small criticism of either it would be that they don't push on enough. However, they are both still learning their trade, getting used to the team and have time to develop that side of their game. It's also worth remembering they're playing in a struggling team, just above the relegation spots so the priority is probably defence over attack. Both look to have bags of ability, they just need some confidence, support and to have the security of the team being safe.

To put it bluntly he is a petty, control freak who seems extremely paranoid. However, he is a petty, paranoid, control freak who is fairly successful, so that success papers over his many faults. Personally, just wish he could leave his negative side behind and concentrate more on his positives. But that seems impossible at the moment and he probably even thinks that his negative traits are a part of his success story.

Sorry if its a repeat, but heArd last night that Newcastle had put a bid in for Lambert. No idea what our reponse was (if its true of course) but imagine based on last nights performance (that missed header excluded) then the new guy won't want to let him go. Pardew connection, Ba replacement??

Are you asking in a Jamaican accent man????

Knew you were referring to the Winter article before I even opened the thread. The piece resonated with me in that whilst it accepts the factual issues regarding ownership, business and decision making, it also empathises with the position of mere supporters and their unusual position of being more than just customers. For many, football is more than a business, it is the cornerstone of their community and an integral part of the fabric of their life. It surely must be possible to run a Club in an effective and efficient manner, whilst at the same time paying attention to the wider community and a Club's supporters

Thank you. Neer fails to cheer me up. LMFAO

Cortese has indeed been a major part in our success, and it is foolish to say our bouncing back has had nothing to with him. But just like with others, I don't see it as an either or situation. Granted you sometimes have to be a barsteward to get success, but for me the Club is much more than just winning games (although of course winning games will make things much easier!!!).

We haven't got long to wait to find out, 17 games/3 months. If we go down, then it's a failure and the recriminations will begin. If we stay up, Adkins will be a pleasant but distant memory, and the summer will be devoted to what Spaniards, Argentinians & others we're going to bring in.

I really don't think you can judge a manager just by looking at league placings. There are so many unknowns. And as for Spanish football being poor standard, i can remember the first game at SMS when Espanyol embarrassed us in the first 45 mins!!! Jury's out on whether this guy can deliver, there look to be positives and negatives regarding his experience, but I'm happy to give him a chance (doesn't mean I'm happy with the decision to sack NA though!!).

Bless him, what a lovely touch. Played a major part in bringing back some pride, dignity, enjoyment and happiness to our Club. What a disappointing day